Thursday, March 8, 2012

Introduction: The Politics of Star Wars

When Star Wars fans dream of that Galaxy Far, Far Away, our minds often envision epic space battles or climactic lightsaber duels. However, from its very inception Star Wars has been a saga about politics, both in the system of galactic governance and in the individual pursuit of power. Along with The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars is probably the most sophisticated analysis of power and ambition in the science fiction or fantasy genres. It has also bravely - if sometimes controversially - addressed real-world political disputes.